• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • The Reading Nook
  • The Happy Place
  • Recipe Index

Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

July 3, 2013

Boost It with Blueberries {Recipe: Secret Ingredient Oatmeal}

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Secret Ingredient Oatmeal from www.dineanddish.net

I thought about going back through my past 6 1/2 years of blog posts to count how many times I brought up the fact that I was trying to lose weight, or struggling with my weight, etc. But then I knew that it would just be “a lot” and decided to go with that. It’s been no secret that I’ve had a constant struggle with the scale since having kids. With each baby, I’d gain weight and would always hold on to 5-10 pounds afterwards. Well, with 4 kids, that 5-10 pounds has definitely added up!

I was thrilled when the folks at the Blueberry Council asked if I wanted to chat with Alison Sweeney,  host of one of my favorite reality shows, The Biggest Loser. I have followed Alison since her early years on Days of Our Lives and have watched her have some of the same weight struggles I have. It’s been so neat to see her turn her life around and come full circle into a healthy lifestyle. 

Here is what I wanted to know from Alison, and what she shared with me…

(D&D) What are your best tips for keeping weight off long term?

(AS) Stick to it! It’s easy to let one bad meal or a bad day throw you off course. But remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. A healthy and active lifestyle is a commitment to live better each and every day.

(D&D) What is your weekly exercise routine like?

(AS) I don’t have a set routine but I do schedule time to work out. Sometimes I’ll have time for a quick run, other times I’ll be able to take a spin or yoga class. If I can’t work out, I make sure I adjust my nutrition accordingly.

(D&D) What are some of your favorite healthy snacks that help keep sweet cravings at bay?

(AS) Greek yogurt with blueberries, agave & cinnamon is one of my favorite snacks.  The blueberries are sweet and tangy, so it makes me feel like I’m having a treat, but it’s still healthy with only 80 calories in a cup of blueberries, plus  fiber and vitamin C. My kids always try to steal a bite it like it’s a dessert!

Alison also shares in this video why blueberries are one of her favorite energy boosting snacks! Check it out…

Bowl of blueberries

Luckily, I love blueberries. I grab a handful before and/or after a run, throw them in smoothies, on top of breakfast cereal and my favorite… secret ingredient oatmeal! So, what’s the secret ingredient in my secret ingredient oatmeal? 2 Tablespoons of French Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix. Sounds strange, but I use this secret ingredient in milkshakes, sweet bread dough, cookies, oatmeal and so much more. It makes for the most delicious, creamy and flavorful addition to so many recipes.

Enjoy!

Secret Ingredient Oatmeal from www.dineanddish.net
Print

Secret Ingredient Blueberry Oatmeal

Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix is the secret ingredient, adding extra flavor and creaminess, to this blueberry oatmeal recipe.
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fat free skim milk
  • 1 cup Quaker Quick Cooking Oats
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 Tablespoons fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

  1. Bring milk to a boil in a small saucepan.
  2. Stir in oats, pudding mix and salt.
  3. Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in cinnamon. Divide between two serving bowls and top with blueberries.

For more great blueberry recipes, make sure to follow The Blueberry Council on Facebook!

Disclosure: I have been paid by The Blueberry Council to share this post, however all opinions expressed are my own.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Filed Under: Breakfast, Previous Tagged With: alison sweeney, blueberries, blueberry, food, health, recipe, weight loss

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather says

    July 3, 2013 at 11:08 am

    I’m going crazy over the secret ingredient – that may make me love oatmeal without gobs of peanut butter in it!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 11:25 am

      It seriously makes everything delicious! I use the sugar free and the regular depending on what I’m making and LOVE it. 🙂 Try it in a milkshake sometime. To die for!

      Reply
  2. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

    July 3, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    We love oatmeal and my kiddos are huge fans of blueberries! Love the interview with Alison! And the secret ingredient – can’t wait to try it!!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      It’s a great ingredient in so many recipes I have… gives a boost of flavor and extra creaminess!

      Reply
  3. Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats says

    July 3, 2013 at 12:49 pm

    What a great idea! I already put vanilla pudding in my cookie batter (so good) so it only makes sense to put it other places as well.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      Oh I love pudding in cookie batter! yum!

      Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    July 3, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    This looks incredible. My kids LOVE blueberries!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      Thanks, Stephanie! Mine do too (and so do I)!

      Reply
  5. Gretchen says

    July 3, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    That is great! A friend just had me start with oatmeal and blueberries! I now eat blueberries everyday!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      We do too – I need to go to the berry patch soon!

      Reply
  6. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says

    July 3, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I eat oatmeal every day for breakfast so I’m definitely giving this secret ingredient business a try! Sounds SO good.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      I hope you will – and you can choose different flavors too!

      Reply
  7. Angie says

    July 3, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    I’ve got to try this! I’ve been eating a container of blueberries for breakfast a few days a week because I love them so much.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm

      We can’t keep our house stocked with blueberries… they are the first fruit to get gobbled up, every time!

      Reply
  8. Aggie says

    July 3, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    So cool that you interviewed Alison Sweeney! Have been watching her on Days (and now biggest loser) FOREVER!

    Blueberries are my thing right now. I love them fresh, but I’ll tell you one of my favorite desserts is Greek yogurt & frozen blueberries, the frozen blueberries freeze up the yogurt in the bowl, sometimes I sneak a a little cool whip to it too! So good!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:23 pm

      I’m a big fan too!
      I love your Greek yogurt idea with the frozen berries. YUM!

      Reply
  9. The Bearfoot Baker says

    July 3, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    I love this post. So inspiring. I never would have thought to put instant vanilla pudding mix in my oatmeal! I need to try this asap.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:23 pm

      You totally do 🙂

      Reply
  10. Tieghan says

    July 3, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    I have to give this a try!! I love oatmeal and blueberries and the pudding sounds like it puts these over the top good!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 3, 2013 at 10:22 pm

      It’s makes it so delicious and creamy!

      Reply
  11. Sheila says

    July 4, 2013 at 6:21 am

    Hopefully the blueberries will be ready so you can go blueberry picking when you are in Michigan. Did you know that Michigan is the biggest producer of blueberries in the nation?! ; D and you will be right in the middle of blueberry land! Love this post, how exciting that you got to interact with Alison!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 4, 2013 at 9:42 am

      I did not know that! That would be so much fun! I sure hope we can get together then – maybe we can go blueberry picking together 🙂

      Reply
  12. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    July 4, 2013 at 6:33 am

    I love Alison!! I can’t believe you got to talk to her – so awesome!! She is a true inspiration. And so are you for that matter. 🙂 xoxo PS: I ditto what Sheila said! Get ready for blueberry heaven!!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 4, 2013 at 9:42 am

      I am so excited – who knew?

      Reply
  13. Shana Norris says

    July 4, 2013 at 8:10 am

    I can’t wait to try this. My kids love blueberries & oatmeal.

    Thanks for sharing, Kristen, and Happy July 4!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 4, 2013 at 9:43 am

      Happy 4th to you too Shana! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says

    July 4, 2013 at 8:46 am

    Love oatmeal and blueberries! Great breakfast idea! Happy 4th!!

    Reply
  15. nessa says

    July 4, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    What a yummy, healthy breakfast idea!

    Reply
  16. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    July 4, 2013 at 3:56 pm

    LOVE oatmeal and blueberries is definitely a great ingredient. Thanks for sharing the interview with Alison 🙂

    Happy 4th!!

    Reply
  17. Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon says

    July 5, 2013 at 7:22 am

    Wowza does that look good! Love those big, juicy blueberries AND the secret ingredient. YUM!

    Reply
  18. Laura @MOMables says

    July 5, 2013 at 10:20 am

    wow! vanilla pudding!? I bet these oats are creamy and delicious! LOVE blueberry everything. xo!

    Reply
  19. Jackie @ The Beeroness says

    July 5, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    Great post! I remember her as Sammy on Days, and talking about how hard it was to be so young on TV and struggle with her weight. And meanwhile, she’s always been gorgeous.
    I love blueberries, and they freeze well, so it’s easy to pick up a bunch when they’re in season and cheaper.

    Reply
  20. What Katie's Baking says

    July 5, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    adding pudding is SUCH a genius idea! i’m going to have to try that!

    Reply
  21. Nutmeg Nanny says

    July 5, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    Oh how delicious! Loving that secret ingredient 😉 so perfect!

    Reply
  22. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says

    July 6, 2013 at 7:21 am

    I should totally try this. I have a hate/hate relationship with oatmeal. I try…but I just can’t.

    Reply
  23. Chloe says

    July 6, 2013 at 11:02 am

    I love blueberries. They are perfect for any type of cereal. It’s best to buy organic blueberries. Great recipe.

    Reply
  24. Robin says

    July 7, 2013 at 7:01 am

    Hi, Kristen. I made this today for breakfast with blackberries that I picked yesterday. It was delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    Robin

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      July 7, 2013 at 7:25 pm

      Fresh picked blackberries? I’m so jealous!

      Reply
  25. Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books says

    July 7, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Your recipe looks so good!
    Added it to my Breakfast board. =)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 75+ Seasonal Summer Recipes Roundup - Savory Simple says:
    July 7, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    […] Simple – Cherry Almond Coconut Quinoa Porridge Savory Simple – Peach Yogurt Muffins Dine and Dish – Secret Ingredient Blueberry Oatmeal All Day I Dream About Food – Low Carb Rhubarb Pecan Scones Texanerin Baking – Honey […]

    Reply
  2. Recipe Pumpkin Magic Brownie Bars with Pumpkin Magic Frosting says:
    September 8, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    […] am I calling these “magic” bars? Well I’ve talked before about how JELL-O Instant Pudding is my secret ingredient in so many recipes (sweet bread dough, oatmeal, milkshakes, cookies, etc). When added to these […]

    Reply
  3. Blueberries: A Superfood Recipe Round-Up | Real Into says:
    November 3, 2013 at 7:44 am

    […] Blueberry Protein Pancakes from Natalie Hodson Blueberry Muffins from Dana at The Coupon Challenge Secret Ingredient Blueberry Oatmeal from Kristen at Dine and Dish Lemon Blueberry Breakfast Bars from Kate at Kate’s Healthy […]

    Reply
  4. MLM Revolution » Accelerated Christian Education says:
    February 4, 2014 at 8:07 am

    […] the most powerful ways you can put email to successfully market your business and success is found. How then can you put the power of email to successfully market your business. As you learn and implement these tips […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Your Hostess

Kristen-125Hi friends, I'm Kristen! Mom of 4, Ambassador of Happiness, Coffee Lover and Connection Seeker. Come say hi! Read More…
Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    RSS    Email Updates
seks yaparken fantezi dünyasının kapıları açılan sikiş kadın büyük penisli adamlarla seks yaparken acı çektiği porno resim anların çok zevkli olduğunu düşününce daha ileri bir boyutta sikiş yapmak mobil sikiş istediğini düşünür özellikle çevresindeki kadınlardan sikiş izle birisinin ona bağlanarak sikilmenin çok haz veren bir şey olduğunu sikiş izle söylemesi üzerine eskilerden büyük penisli olarak türk porno hatırladığı bir adamı arayarak fantezi yaşamak istediğini mobil porno söyler bağamalı sert sikiş yaşama üzere adamın evine sikiş gelir bağlanarak sikilmek isteyen ateşli kadını türk porno yıllarını spor yapmaya adamış

Don’t Miss This!

Easy Black Beans and Rice Recipe

Black Beans and Rice Bowls from dineanddish.net This is an incredibly simple recipe for a quick dinner!

My Book Recommendations

Why We Love Usborne Books (Holiday Giveaway)

A Year of Me Usborne Books Giveaway

Footer

food  FOOD

My love of how food connects people together runs deep. Explore a decade worth of Dine & Dish recipes, from sweets to savory as well as classic family favorites. Food lovers will want to check this out. Bon Appétit!
Clear Glass Bowl with Instant Pot Ristotto, Shrimp and Veggies

EXPLORE FOOD

travel  TRAVEL

"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." I've always had a serious case of wanderlust, and traveling and exploring new places continues to be one of my favorite things. Come explore my favorite places with me!
5 Great Ways to Maximize Your Time at Walt Disney World Parks

EXPLORE TRAVEL

life  LIFE

More than just a food blog, Dine & Dish has always been a place where I've shared what's happening in our life. These life posts tend to be my absolute favorite blog posts. Come get a taste of life as it happens in our house!
broken plant pot on the floor with dirt

EXPLORE LIFE

happiness  HAPPINESS

I believe that in order to live a happy life, you have to make happiness happen through implementing simple things that make you happy into every day. Here are a few of the things that bring me happiness - I hope they do you too.

EXPLORE HAPPINESS

Open
Have you ever been creatively stuck?
.
December 2019 my absolute favorite camera lens fell out of the cabinet I keep it in and shattered in a million pieces. I cried for days and days. I barely picked up my DSLR in 2020 because I just felt so uninspired. I couldn’t get the shots I was visualizing in my head with the lenses I had. 
.
Nick and the kids replaced my favorite lens as a Christmas gift and I’m ecstatic to be shooting again! I joined my incredibly talented friend @kimklassen creative photography Inner Circle for extra inspiration this year. Assignment 1 out of the gate and I already feel eager and excited about photography again! (You can see my “tell a story through multiples” in my Instagram story.)
.
Three cheers for bursting with inspiration again, after all this time.
.
.
@kimklassen_innercircle #monthofmultiples #meyerlemon #foodphotography #photoinspiration #createeveryday #thesmallthings #everydaybeauty
Open
Last year I couldn’t believe I was old enough to have an 18 year old. This year I look in the mirror and see someone old enough to have a 19 year old. This past year has been a lot and man, it has physically aged me! But one things solid and firm...I love my kids and am so proud of them! The resilience Jacob has shown this past year has impressed me...”graduating” high school, starting college, all when things have been so up in the air and unsure. And never once complaining about it. My kids haven’t lost a thing this year...instead they’ve gained so much they wouldn’t have gained without this experience. I’m so proud to be their mom. Happy 19th birthday @jacobdoyle02 We are fiercely proud of you and love you so much!
.
.
#happybirthday #thisis19 #gotchaday
Open
I always read so much in the last couple weeks of the year, I could never have my “best of” choices finalized. Christmas break is my favorite time to read read read!
.
I’m finishing up All About Us and The Prettiest Star, and then have this awesome stack to tackle! What should I read next? So many good ones to choose from! Will any of these make my 2020 top ten? 
.
.
.
#bookstack #librarybooks #christmasbreak #whatshouldireadnext #bookstoread #booksbooksbooks #readingbooks #favoritetimeoftheyear #favoritebooks #booksandchristmas
Open
Feeling festive with @ella.r.doyle & @kelly_k_doyle ! 🌲 
.
This is the recipe my sister-in-law uses and it is the BEST tasting, no fail sugar cookie recipe. It’s from a really old issue of @tasteofhome magazine with a frosting recipe she wrote down in the margin. I could eat so many of these and never get tired of them! If you want the recipe let me know and I’ll dm you the picture! Is making decorated cut out cookies one of your Christmas traditions?
.
.
#sugarcookies #sugarcookiesofinstagram #cookiedecorating #festivevibes #feelingfestive #christmasaesthetic #christmasvibes🎄 #cookiesforsanta #cutoutcookies #christmascookiesfordays #holidaytreats #christmastraditions
Open
It’s a book giveaway! I often get people asking me for book recommendations. Talking books is one of my favorite things to do! So when @librofm gave me the opportunity to give away three audio copies of any audiobook I wanted to, I knew immediately which book I wanted to share.
.
@roblowe book, Stories I Only Tell My Friends is the audiobook I recommend to EVERYONE. It is a book I listened to years ago, not expecting to love it, but I absolutely did. First of all, Rob Lowe narrates...so there’s that lovely bonus. But Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a funny, raw, emotional, informative, peek inside of the life of a really fascinating celebrity.
.
I wasn’t a Rob Lowe super fan before. I haven’t watched West Wing (I know, I know), Brothers & Sisters, Parks & Rec, or any of his TV shows, but I have always been a HUGE Brat Pack fan. Well, after listening to this audiobook I am a big fan (and his other audiobook, Love Life, is great too).
.
Long story short, I have three codes through @librofm to give to 3 people. To enter, leave a comment on this post by midnight CST on 12/16 telling me what your favorite audiobook is and why! Also, definitely check out Libro.fm - the best audiobook platform that also gives back to local bookstores!
.
.
.
#bookphotography #audiobooks #bookgiveaway #roblowe #fortheloveofbooks #whattoreadnext #favoritebook #librofmlisteningsquad #librolisteningsquad #librofm #storiesionlytellmyfriends #celebritymemoir #memoir #bookpics #bookstagramcommunity
Open
“I can’t wait for my seasonal depression to meet my year 2020 depression.” 😩
.
If S.A.D is something you worry about each year, but especially this year, let me introduce you to my seasonal affective disorder game changer, the @sunrisesensations light therapy lamp. I ordered one of these lamps last year at the recommendation of my friend @leslieradams and it is the best (& most stylish) light therapy lamp I’ve ever used. I absolutely love it and highly recommend it...it’s well worth the money.
.
@sunrisesensations has a new, smaller lamp called Bright Box. The size snd functionality is perfect for a nightstand or office desk. Let me know if you have any questions about how these lamps continue to help me fight those pesky winter blues! Check out Sunrise Sensations to find the right UV free light therapy box for you!
.
.
.
#seasonalaffectivedisorder #sad #lighttherapy #winterblues #winterbluesbegone #winterdepression #sadlight
Open
Ella did a thing today!
.
.
@ella.r.doyle #shorthairstyle #shorthair #haircutsforwomen #teenstyle @naughtyouraveragecurl @thewarehouzsalonshawnee  @tijneyewear
Open
Alright, alright, alright! It’s time to talk about how we can support our local bookstore during the holidays and beyond! As you consider buying gifts this year, make sure you shop local for all the book people on your list! One unique and super easy way you can support your favorite local bookstores is with an audiobook subscription to @librofm Yes! Audiobooks! With Libro.fm you can financially support your local bookstore AND buy audiobooks all at the same time. Each audiobook purchase supports the independent book store of your choice! Do it for yourself and buy some audiobooks for friends too!
.

If you need audiobook ideas, hit me up. I’ve listened to so many great books this year that will make it on my top favorites list, including Greenlights by @officiallymcconaughey It’s narrated by the author and is so worth the listen! Your ears will thank you!
.
PS my favorite #localbookstore @rainydaybooks is under renovation which makes it even better that I can still safely support them from the comfort of my own home! 
.
.

#ShopLocalBookstores #librofm #LibrofmListeningSquad, #shopsmallbusinesses #bookpeople #greenlightsbook #matthewmcconaughey #bookstores #bookstoresofinstagram #audiobookstagram #goodreadschallenge
Follow on Instagram
For our site policies, click here.

Copyright © 2006-2021 Dine and Dish | design by Feast Design Co | Wordpress VPS